Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

  1. #1
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    A mate is looking for a new machine. It will be primarily used for browsing, basic document management, photo manipulation (GIMP) and other basic home user tasks, it will not be used for gaming (other than flash/webgames)

    It must be small, low power, as near silent as is possible and new - no 2nd hand components.

    The ASRock ION 3D 152B fits the bill perfectly and comes in at £350.00 all in and has the added bonus of a bluray drive. All he needs to add is a wireless keyboard and mouse and he's got a fully functional PC that'll output to his TV and/or a monitor.

    I researched nettops and SFF builds when I was looking to put together an HTPC at the beginning of 2010. I had the same budget and found the best ASRock at the time did everything I wanted (I bought a Popcorn Hour though!). I'm sure things have moved on a lot since then but I've not followed the tech, so;

    A challenge for those of you who know more than me, could I build something that equals or even betters the ION 3D for the same budget?

    Thanks
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

  2. #2
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    Right, I've spent a bit of time on this and have come up with the following;

    Mobo - Zotac NM10-E-E @ £84

    RAM - Corsair VS 4Gb @ £45

    HDD - Samsung 320Gb SP @ £31

    Optical Drive - Samsung SH-B123L @ £49

    PSU - Not sure, needs to be low power and quiet - The 450W version of this Rasurbo is said to be a good (silent) purchase ~£40

    Case - Lian Li PC-Q07B @ £45

    Total - £294.00

    Other than an OS, which I think he has and a remote, which he wont need, I think that's it. Have I missed anything?
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

  3. #3
    Oh Crumbs.... Biscuit's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    N. Yorkshire
    Posts
    11,193
    Thanks
    1,394
    Thanked
    1,091 times in 833 posts
    • Biscuit's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI B450M Mortar
      • CPU:
      • AMD 2700X (Be Quiet! Dark Rock 3)
      • Memory:
      • 16GB Patriot Viper 2 @ 3466MHz
      • Storage:
      • 500GB WD Black
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Sapphire R9 290X Vapor-X
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic Focus Gold 750W
      • Case:
      • Lian Li PC-V359
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 x64
      • Internet:
      • BT Infinity 80/20

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    I know its more expensive but this

    http://www.scan.co.uk/products/gigab...gb-s-m-itx-vga

    will give hima bit more grunt than an atom/ion system

  4. Received thanks from:

    mycarsavw (26-05-2011)

  5. #4
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    Thanks for that, that adds another £40 to the mobo but allows me to save ~£10 on RAM

    So;

    Mobo - Gigabyte GA-E350N-USB3 @ £125

    RAM - Corsair XMS3 Classic 4GB @ £34

    HDD - Samsung 320Gb SP @ £31

    He's informed me he's not too keen on the case and would prefer something more akin to the ASRock case;

    Case/PSU - Akasa Crypto @ £59

    ODD - Sony BC 5640H @ £83

    Total - £332.00
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

  6. #5
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    The land of Brum
    Posts
    10,128
    Thanks
    605
    Thanked
    1,220 times in 1,121 posts
    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    the amd e-350 is supposed to be better than the atom d525

    If you could squeeze a bit more out then an i3-2100t http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...25x-35w-retail and an mini-itx board http://www.scan.co.uk/products/intel...s-mini-itx-vga would be even better

    personally I'd not bother with bluray unless this is going to be plugged into a BIG tv and he plans on watching them.

  7. Received thanks from:

    mycarsavw (27-05-2011)

  8. #6
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    Cheers Pob, while I appreciate the extra grunt from the seperate mobo/cpu, they push the total price over the budget.

    As for bluray, as he just wants what is fundamentally a business machine I could probably do away with it altogether, it was an added bonus in the ASRock.

    Screen size isn't as much of an issue as viewing distance. As long as the distance to the screen is right, the size of screen is (imho of course) secondary.
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

  9. #7
    Senior Member oolon's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    London
    Posts
    2,294
    Thanks
    150
    Thanked
    302 times in 248 posts
    • oolon's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus P6T6
      • CPU:
      • Xeon w3680
      • Memory:
      • 3*4GB Kingston ECC
      • Storage:
      • 160GB Intel G2 SSD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • XFX HD6970 2GB
      • PSU:
      • Corsair HX850
      • Case:
      • Antec P183
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 Ultimate and Centos 5
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2408WFP
      • Internet:
      • Be* Unlimied 6 down/1.2 up

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    EDITED

    Never mind... the ASR Rock does not include a keyboard and mouse, unlike my Asus and Acer, I thought it would have.
    (\__/) All I wanted in the end was world domination and a whole lot of money to spend. - NMA
    (='.*=)
    (")_(*)

  10. Received thanks from:

    mycarsavw (27-05-2011)

  11. #8
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    Quote Originally Posted by oolon View Post
    Don't forget your need a keyboard and mouse (the ION probably includes them).
    Quote Originally Posted by mycarsavw View Post
    ...All he needs to add is a wireless keyboard and mouse and he's got a fully functional PC that'll output to his TV and/or a monitor...


    I think he's going to try and reuse his current keyb/mouse - as this will be replacing his ageing gaming machine - until funds are replenished enough to buy a wireless set.
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

  12. Received thanks from:

    oolon (27-05-2011)

  13. #9
    Senior Member Pob255's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    The land of Brum
    Posts
    10,128
    Thanks
    605
    Thanked
    1,220 times in 1,121 posts
    • Pob255's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus M5A99X EVO
      • CPU:
      • FX8350 & CM Hyper 212+
      • Memory:
      • 4 x 2gb Corsair Vengence 1600mhz cas9
      • Storage:
      • 512gb samsung SSD +1tb Samsung HDD
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EGVA GTX970
      • PSU:
      • Seasonic GX 650W
      • Case:
      • HAF 912+
      • Operating System:
      • W7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • iiyama XB3270QS-B1 32" IPS 1440p

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    Quote Originally Posted by mycarsavw View Post
    Cheers Pob, while I appreciate the extra grunt from the seperate mobo/cpu, they push the total price over the budget.

    As for bluray, as he just wants what is fundamentally a business machine I could probably do away with it altogether, it was an added bonus in the ASRock.

    Screen size isn't as much of an issue as viewing distance. As long as the distance to the screen is right, the size of screen is (imho of course) secondary.
    Actually it's not much more

    Gigabyte GA-E350N-USB3 @ £125 + Sony BC 5640H @ £83 = £213

    i3 2100T @£96 + intel BOXDH61DLB3 H61 @£64 + samsung s083f slimline dvd @£18 = £178
    So that's actually cheaper and more powerful cpu wise.
    http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu...3-2100t_7.html http://www.fudzilla.com/reviews/item...5-ion2?start=3
    Even if you keep the bluray it's only £35 more.

  14. #10
    ɯʎɔɐɹsɐʌʍ mycarsavw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Posts
    4,945
    Thanks
    1,097
    Thanked
    653 times in 482 posts
    • mycarsavw's system
      • Motherboard:
      • P8H77-M Pro
      • CPU:
      • i5 3350P
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb
      • Storage:
      • Lots
      • Graphics card(s):
      • R9 285
      • PSU:
      • HX 620w
      • Case:
      • FD Define Mini
      • Operating System:
      • W10
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ G2420HDBL + GL2450HT
      • Internet:
      • Sky

    Re: Before I buy an ASRock ION 3D....

    Pob, aye, if he dropped the bluray and went for a DVD then it's under budget and that's fine.

    It's the bluray + CPU + mobo set that puts it over. Granted it's only £35 but it's still over. He's quite...erm...tight?
    |Kata: "Read title as 'fisting'. Not sure why I clicked. Relieved, really."|
    |TAKTAK: "It was so small that mine wouldn't fit into it"|

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Why did you buy the car that you drive?
    By XTR in forum Automotive
    Replies: 161
    Last Post: 08-02-2014, 05:35 PM
  2. where to buy a in-out shield for a Asrock mobo
    By wannabgeek in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 13-11-2010, 02:10 PM
  3. Windows Vista retail doomed unless Microsoft cuts prices?
    By Bob Crabtree in forum HEXUS News
    Replies: 132
    Last Post: 02-04-2007, 01:05 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •